A Look at Different Horse Heights

Daniel Johnson — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

There are hundreds of breeds of horses in the world and so many different sizes. There are horses small enough to fit on your couch and horses so tall you would need a ladder in order to touch their ears. But if you’re new to horses, learning all the different breed heights can be a real challenge. What makes Miniature Horses miniature, compared to a pony? How big is a draft horse, compared to a Thoroughbred? And what is a ‘hand,’ anyway? Luckily, we’re here to help.

Let’s start with answers to some frequently asked questions about measuring a horse’s height:

What is the average horse height?

The average horse height is between 13.3 and 17.3 hands tall (or 1.4–1.8 meters), but it should be noted that this figure includes all breeds.

Why are horses measured in hands?

A hand, which is the equivalent to four inches, is the traditional measure used to determine the height of a horse. It is still used extensively in a variety of English-speaking nations. In the world of equestrians, it has been retained as the most preferred measure, although the metric system is used in FEI-regulated international competitions. It is usually abbreviated to “h” or “hh” (the latter meaning “hands high”).

How do you measure a horse?

To measure a horse’s height, be sure they’re standing on a level surface. Using a measuring stick or tape measure, take measurements directly from the ground all the way to the top of the withers. Do not measure to any other point on the horse’s body; the withers are the universal point of measurement for horse height.

Watch a video demonstrating how to measure a horse’s height >>
Pony Club Skills: Measuring a Horse>>

Explore the infographic below and take a fun look at the different average heights of some common horse breeds and how they compare to each other—there’s a wide range of sizes in the equine world!

Click image to view larger

Horse Breed	Average Height (hands)	Average Height (inches)	Average Height (meters)
American Paint Horse	14.3-16.2 hands	59-66 inches	1.5–1.68 meters
American Quarter Horse	14.3–16.2 hands	59–66 inches	1.5–1.6.8 meters
Arabian	14.2–15.3 hands	58–63 inches	1.47–1.6 meters
Clydesdale	16–18 hands	64–72 inches	1.63–1.83 meters
Connemara Pony	13–15 hands	52–60 inches	1.32–1.52 meters
Dutch Warmblood (KWPN)	15.2-17 hands	62-68 inches	1.57-1.72 meters
Haflinger	14–15.2 hands	56–62 inches	1.42–1.57 meters
Miniature Horse	7-9.2 hands	28-38 inches	0.71-0.97 m
Shetland Pony	7–11.2 hands	28–46 inches	0.71–1.17 meters
Thoroughbred	15.2–17 hands	62–68 inches	1.57–1.72 meters
Welsh Pony (Section A)	12-12.2hands	48-50 inches	1.22–1.27 meters

Note: The two Miniature Horse registries, the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) and the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR), have different criteria for measuring Miniature Horses. The AMHA will not register a horse of a height over 34” tall, while the AMHR has two separate categories of sizes; horses under 34”, and horses between 34” and 38”. All registered Miniature Horses will be under 38” tall.

This article about horse heights is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Pony Club Skills: Measuring a Horse

Young Rider — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 06:23:09 +0000

It’s good to know the actual height of your horse, especially if you are showing, shipping, or selling him. Here are some tips on how to measure your horse’s height. Horses are measured in hands. Each hand is 4 inches.

Horses can be 15.3 hands, but they can’t be 15.4 hands—that would actually be a 16-hand horse.

Ponies may be labeled small, medium or large, but must be 14.2 hands or less.

Horses measure over 14.2 hands; a pony measures 14.2 hands or under. For some competitions, ponies have to be measured to obtain an official “pony card.” The card puts them in the appropriate height category:

Small ponies measure 12.2 hands and under.
Medium ponies measure 12.3 hands to 13.2 hands.
Large ponies measure 13.3 to 14.2 hands.

How To Measure

To measure a horse’s height, you’ll need at least one horse or pony to practice on, a horse-measuring device (tape or height measuring stick), and a flat surface for the horse to stand on.

For safety, it’s best to have someone hold your horse while you measure height. When measuring, your horse should be standing as square as possible, not stretched out behind or resting a hind foot, and on a flat surface. Measure from the base of the front hoof up to the top of the withers.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes horses are a bit afraid of the measuring device. Make sure to show them what you’re doing to help them remain calm.

If a horse is too tall for you to reach his withers, adult assistance might be needed. If no live horses or ponies are available, practice with pictures, trying to get as true to size as possible. Some people live near parks with statues of horses where you can practice measuring. You could also draw a picture of a horse in chalk and measure your picture. For fun, have someone measure you from your toes to the top of your head so you can figure out your height in hands!

Brought to you in partnership with the United StateS Pony Clubs Find this lesson in the USPC Manual of Horsemanship Basics for Beginners D-Level (2nd edition), page 249. For more fun lessons like this, join Pony Club! www.ponyclub.org

This article originally appeared in the January/February 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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